Not sure if anyone knows about this, so thought i would give it a post and see what other people think to this idea.

Well currently there is a plan which is now finnished for a replacement of the Supertram extentions between sheffield and rotherham, and it is a guidedbus way, it also sounds like there will be a new big park and ride over in rotherham at junction 33 of the M1 for this new bus guideway.

What do you currently think to this, the only information i have been able to find out on this project is on this following link: http://www.travelsy.proboards75.com/index.cgi?board=buses&action=display&thread=1184857130&page=1

theres 2 pages, there's some good posts on there, but most is just people who work and take an interest in transport talking.

There was also some links in that post to PDF files about this new scheme i believe.

If what is true what as been said on there, then it is up to the DFT now to decide weather to accept or deny this new project.

I've seen the one in Leeds- its a joke!

Takes up the same road space as a tram only cars cant also use that space. Yep, they'll probably go with that.

I'm confused as to what a "Guided Bus" is. Is it just a normal bus but with a guide dog pulling it on a lead?

It is a different section of the road just for buses, like the tram is on certain points, this is just for buses, and would run down the middle or at the side of main roads en route from sheffield to rotherham.

The buses have special guided wheels to help it keep on it's tracks, and there are many of these schemes in the UK, includeing Leeds, Bradford, Cambridge and Edinburgh.

Here is a photo of the leeds one: http://citytransport.info/PhotoCD/2111_19a.jpg

HTH :)

Also to add in the middle there is now grass at nealry all of the bus guideways what are not in the middle of roads, but the one proposed for sheffield will be runnind down the middle of the sheffield parkway as the meadowhall one was too expensive!

What are the benefits over a normal bus lane? I can't see any. It even takes up more space.

It will be a segregated route down the Parkway, without taking any of the current capacity out. The standard of vehicles is superior to standard buses, something of a cross between a tram and a coach.

It will be a segregated route down the Parkway, without taking any of the current capacity out. The standard of vehicles is superior to standard buses, something of a cross between a tram and a coach.

Why can't it just be an extra piece of tarmac that only special busses can drive on? Why the need for it to be guided? Can emergency vehicles still use them?

It's not looking like a guided rail in this proposals. The benefits of a Bus Rapid Transit scheme is that any segregated sections could be used by other buses. The principal is that it is separate to traffic where ever possible, like the tram, and thereby provides a fast and reliable link. For example, the link between Waverley park and ride and Sheffield would not stop until the City Centre.

Also there will be a spur to rotherham hospital according to that site, but will the link to parkgate retail world still go ahead?

And schemes like this will probabily use articulated vehicles like the FTR for example.

I can't see the point, as others have said why not just add a lane of tarmac and write "buses only" on it?

Extending the tram would be a far better idea.

I have quickly skimmed through this thread, so forgive me, but my initial thoughts are that it may be a good idea. If it encourages car drivers to use buses (as they have a direct route to town, without hold ups) then its got my vote.

I can see my husband using it as there is no direct bus from our house to Sheffield (apart from one which takes 1hr 30mins)

If you have a normal bus lane for some reason car drivers seem to think they are driving a bus and can use it. Sound familiar!

Segregation is the only proper enforcement.

These guided lanes do work as the ride is smoother because the driver is not driving only slowing, stoping and accelerating. The guide wheels do the driving. Very much like London Underground. The Bradford one works really well and was actually part financed by First. You do not always need superior vechiles as all bussses can be retro fitted with these wheels. Bradford uses standard Volvo B7 low floor double deckers and people seem happy to use these in return for faster journey times.

A good idea though and long overdue. We always seem to lag behind other cities with these sorts of ideas.

Well of course Bus lanes in sheffield can be used by motorcycles, bicycles and taxis. A guided bus lane would be good for regular commuters. As it would be free of these other vehicles.

just on a different tack, is it more awkward to drive - it looks like there is only iches to spare each side of the bus btween high kerbs.

Any bus drivers out there with a view?

I work in Rotherham and use the parkway to drive home.

I can see where a guided bus way in principle sounds a good idea on paper but is it really more rapid, unless you live on the route, because you'd have to make connections either end.

How is it different from getting the tram to Meadowhall and then the train from there to Rotherham? Why not have a park and ride place near Meadowhall connecting with the tram/train (perhaps after those towers get demolished some land will be freed up).

If you want to get from Rotherham centre to Sheffield what's wrong with the rapid guided transport already in place i.e. the train, which takes 12mins and goes via Meadowhall in any case?

Any bus drivers out there with a view?

everyone knows that bus drivers havent got a view thats why they're putting in guided busways with foot high kerbs and special steering to keep them out of the way of ordinary motorists

it's about time that the supertram came to Rotherham after all we have being paying for it without getting the benifit of having it in Rotherham.

just on a different tack, is it more awkward to drive - it looks like there is only iches to spare each side of the bus btween high kerbs.

Any bus drivers out there with a view?

I'm not a bus driver but I think you are missing the point. You don't steer, the bus is guided by wheels running along high kerbs or something. It is a good system in the right place, a kind of cheap-skate tram.


And let's face it we are not going to get any money from the government, or anybody else, to pay for any supertram extensions. They are more interested in paying for the London Olyimpics.

it's about time that the supertram came to Rotherham after all we have being paying for it without getting the benifit of having it in Rotherham.

I agree with you. Unfortunately I two have been playing council tax/poll tax etc.. for the last 20 years and have only ridden on the supertram twice because it doesn't go anywhere near to my home either. We badly need the supertram to be extended across the whole county, but up here in sheffield we are invisible to the westminster government unless they want to tax us.

So these buses can only go in one direction then?

Mind you the same with the tram.

So you would need two of these bus lane thingies?

No the most cost effective thing would be to have one, like the majority of most, and use it as a tidal flow in which way the traffic is the heaviest etc.

That's what I thought at first, and then I thought, "Hang on how will it get back to its starting point to begin the second run?"

So these buses can only go in one direction then?

Mind you the same with the tram.

So you would need two of these bus lane thingies?

The tram can be driven in either direction, just so long as it's on its tracks, as it has a driver's cabin at both ends (Just like the old trams used to have)

the tram has special points, every so often, where the driver can take the vehicle over to the other track, on the other side of the road, in case there is an accident or some other blockage, and the tram can't get through on its scheduled route.

I have seen these strange buses with guide-wheels in l**ds (I also believe they are in use in Doncaster). they are not quite as restricted on their routes as the tram, as they have ordinary tyres and can therefore run on ordinary roads.

I think the guided bit of the track is possibly for where there are restrictions in the traffic access, eg "buses permitted but cars are not" sections.

I was wondering what would happen if two of these buses met going in opposite directions.

The trams have separate tracks.

I know the tram can go in either direction, but not on the same track. :suspect:

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Oh no!! They have had the one in Leeds a fair few years now, what a waste of money IMHO.

I can remember some toy cars being popular when i was younger. You got a high sided track for the cars to race them along. It was a bit of a scalextric type idea but the cars were battery powered and had little wheels that stuck out from the side of the main wheels. These wheels were horizontal rather than vertical to the car and so as the side of the car brushes against the high edged track it is guided round the corners.

On the buses these wheels stick out from the front wheels and are attached to the steering of the bus.

They just spend ages creating this 'track' for a handfull of buses to use it each day. I definitely agree a normal Bus Lane or extension of the tram is a much better idea.

This post seems to be concentrating on how the system will be implemented and run.
As I understand it the guided bus will still be a bus with all the negative aspects of buses running here and now; eg limited access/alighting, very limited disabled access/space when compared to the tram. Yes it's obviously cheaper but that usually also means inferior.
What's really needed is a proper city wide tram system (in about 50 years time when the Olympics have been paid for :gag:)
Check these links;http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/search.php?searchid=4007463&pp=30&page=2

it's about time that the supertram came to Rotherham after all we have being paying for it without getting the benifit of having it in Rotherham.

Well when there was a proposal for a line from Sheffield to Hellaby a couple of years ago the residents of Moorgate, Whiston etc. were campaining to stop it, I remember seeing posters saying "no tram" along Bawtry Rd... (government decided it wasn't prepared to pay for any more trams anyway in the end).

If you have a normal bus lane for some reason car drivers seem to think they are driving a bus and can use it. Sound familiar!

Segregation is the only proper enforcement.

These guided lanes do work as the ride is smoother because the driver is not driving only slowing, stoping and accelerating. The guide wheels do the driving. Very much like London Underground. The Bradford one works really well and was actually part financed by First. You do not always need superior vechiles as all bussses can be retro fitted with these wheels. Bradford uses standard Volvo B7 low floor double deckers and people seem happy to use these in return for faster journey times.

A good idea though and long overdue. We always seem to lag behind other cities with these sorts of ideas.

Lag behind? we got the tram, why not just expand that? A guided bus is just the cheap alternative not an improvement on the tram. Ask leeds which they would have preferred, having just lost all chance of getting the tram they longed for

Well when there was a proposal for a line from Sheffield to Hellaby a couple of years ago the residents of Moorgate, Whiston etc. were campaining to stop it, I remember seeing posters saying "no tram" along Bawtry Rd... (government decided it wasn't prepared to pay for any more trams anyway in the end).

Some of the reason was the poor presentation which was offered to tender for the scheme, especially in comparison to the time and investment other regions had spent on theirs.

Bit off topic Muddycoffe but I love your pictures. I have worked in all the flats but what I remember especially in Parkhill, Kelvin and Broadfield Road were the long balconies and having to carry heavy TV's the length and breadth of them. It did wonders for my muscles though and saved me a fortune going to the gym. Finding flat numbers was another problem especially on Edward Street. See you, thanks for the memories.

Lag behind? we got the tram, why not just expand that? A guided bus is just the cheap alternative not an improvement on the tram. Ask leeds which they would have preferred, having just lost all chance of getting the tram they longed for

Spot on theripsaw.:thumbsup: The train and trams seem to be the only form of public transport that's able to compete with car.

Bit off topic Muddycoffe but I love your pictures. I have worked in all the flats but what I remember especially in Parkhill, Kelvin and Broadfield Road were the long balconies and having to carry heavy TV's the length and breadth of them. It did wonders for my muscles though and saved me a fortune going to the gym. Finding flat numbers was another problem especially on Edward Street. See you, thanks for the memories.

You're welcome Grahame, keep checking back, I hope to add all the remaining ones over the next month or two. :thumbsup: